52 



its proper habitat must be a furrow similar to those of the 

 Tubiculous worms, to which in structure it evidently approximates 

 in several particulars." 



Dr. Johnston's description is wanting in detail in some respects, 

 and Prof. Mcintosh, in the Annals and Magazine of Natural 

 History, vol. 2, series 1868, p. 282, gives a very lengtliy descrip- 

 tion of the tentacles, bristles, hooks and the anal segment, 

 accompanied by a plate, which is reproduced and will be found 

 at the end of this report. As far as I can ascertain, nothing has 

 yet been published in refei^ence to the eggs of the worm, and the 

 followi])g, if new, may be of interest : — -The ova appear to be 

 matured in the body of the worm and commence on about the 

 thirtieth segment. Each succeeding segment to about the fiftieth 

 bears a pair of egg-sacs, each of which contains between fifty 

 and sixty eggs. The egg-cases are deposited on the sides 

 of the membranous tubes inhabited by the worm, and remain 

 in this position until the young worms are hatched. (I^ig- 10, 

 plate 3). It appears to me that the brood-pouches are formed 

 within the body of the worm, and at the period of deposition 

 the outer cuticle is I'uptured, and the egg-sacs fixed on the 

 sides of the tube. Before the eggs are deposited, the body 

 of the worm is plump and of a cream colour, with a central 

 line varying in colour from bright red to a very dark brown. 

 Afterwards the body appears tliin and of a chocolate colour, 

 and appears almost like another species. In fact until I 

 carefully examined those wliich had laid their eggs, I thought 

 there was a second species inhabiting the oysters. The period 

 during which the worms produce ova may be stated to be the 

 months of October, November and December. How far the 

 breeding extends beyond these months I am unable to say ; but 

 it pi'obably is within the mark to say that it may extend for a 

 month or six weeks on each side. 



The folloM'ing is a list of the principal writers who have written 

 on the worm and its habits : — 



Leucodore ciliatun — Johnston, Magazine of Zoology and Botany, 

 1838, ii., p. GQ, pi. 3, f. 1-6. 



„ ,, Dr. T. Williams, Report of the British Asso- 



ciation, 1851, p. 208. 



„ „ Dr. Johnston, Catalogue of Non-Parasitical 



Worms in the British Museum, 1865, p. 

 205, pi. 18, f. 6. 



,, „ Prof. E. Ray Lankester, Annals and Maga- 



zine of Natural History, 1868, vol. 1, 

 ser. 4, p. 233, pi. xi. 



,, ,, Prof. W. C. Mcintosh, Annals and Magazine 



of Natural History, vol. 2, ser. 4, 1868, 

 p. 276, pis. xviii. and xix. 



